"The disciple whom Jesus loved!" What a statement! A few years ago while wandering in a spiritual desert of sorts, I decided I needed to start reading my Bible again. When I came to this statement in John's gospel, something inside me said, 'Yes, that's what I want to be known for.' I didn't have any idea what that might look like, but I knew that was something I wanted and so I began to ask God for it.
Fast forward to the present and I find myself beginning to comprehend this just a little bit. God in His steadfast love has been slowly wooing me into a deeper understanding of what that means and teasing my heart with the reality of these words.
I began this series over a year ago after I discovered some clear scriptures [1] that we are invited into fellowship with God. I felt the Holy Spirit gave me the basic bullet points of the overall series,[2] but He let me sit on this one for a long time as I meditated on it, searched the scriptures and sought to understand what He meant by “God demands fellowship.” I offer to you some of my thoughts on this and may the Holy Spirit bring light and discernment to your hearts.
At first I was a bit put off by the word “Demand.” It doesn’t seem to fit with a message focused on intimacy with God. Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it’s appropriate because the demands of God are paramount to our fellowship with Him. The word ‘demand’ carries with it the following meanings:[3]
(This was an experience I had during worship a number of years ago. It was a pivotal point in my personal journey into the heart of God.)
I was called to come through the gate into the outer courts of the King's Dwelling and as I passed through I was joined by others who like me, were seeking the King of Heaven.
As the throng of people gathered, praise began to flow from the lips of the multitude.
I had entered the outer courts of the Temple. The praise swelled as the song of salvation continued to grow in the hearts of those gathered around me. I began to feel this praise in my own heart and quickly I was swept up in the joy and excitement of being in the courts of the King.